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The Best Practices in Drug Prevention

Best practices in drug prevention strategies are those that are most effective in deterring young people from using drugs. Such strategies help young people make responsible decisions about drug use. Youth who can make more informed decisions are less likely to experiment with drugs and therefore less likely to suffer the negative consequences of experimentation such as increased risk of accidents and drug and alcohol addiction.

  1. History

    • A look at the history of prevention programs shows the importance of using strategies informed by research. Prior to the 1980s prevention methods were not informed by research. These strategies involved teaching young people about drugs and working to increase their self-esteem. Research into these strategies showed that they were not effective. Therefore, tactics based on psychological social learning theories were developed. This was the basis for the development of the best practice models used in drug prevention today.

    Program Types

    • While social learning programs are most effective, specific programs vary in their effectiveness of preventing use. The most common prevention programs include the Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP), the Life Skills Training program (LST) and the ATLAS program. According to Dennis M. Gorman, Ph.D., M.Sc., in the 2003 edition of Psychiatric Services, research shows that while these programs have their own strengths, they also have some specific weaknesses. For instance, while the LST program may be effective in preventing other types of substance use, it has no effect on preventing marijuana use and may contribute to an increase in alcohol use.

    Basic Principles

    • Effective, research-based programs are built on certain basic principles that make them successful. Effective programs have a strong foundation, are comprehensive and address protective factors, risk factors and promote resiliency in participants. Successful programs also set realistic goals and base their programs on accurate information with regard to the demographics of the students being served -- they understand the young people in the specific community and work to involve them. In order to be effective, these programs must also appear believable to the youth involved.

    Warnings

    • Prevention programs that exist in isolation, for instance, those that are simply a part of a school curriculum have less effect than those that include the surrounding community. Community risk and protective factors should be assessed and efforts should be made to engage the community in prevention efforts. Best practice is to assess the community's readiness, since some communities may be at-risk but unwilling to participate in prevention programs.

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